RS- War revision

People who refuse to fight in a war are cowards- f

Warfare is sometimes necessary-> people who aren't prepared to fight are probably motivated by fear of being wounded/ killed-> defending your country-> brings out the best in people+ is an easy way of resolving conflicts

Cowardly reaction-> concealed by grand words about pacifism+ not becoming as bad as the aggressor

Mark 11:15-19

Depends on the type of pacifist-> selective (will fight but not if war uses smth. they didn't agree to)-> still prepared to fight under some circumstances, but just don't want to use certain types of weapons; absolute-> don't fight under any circumstances

The commandment "Thou Shalt Not Kill" refers to murder, not to killing in a war

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People who refuse to fight in a war are cowards- a

Takes courage+ there are consequences which have to be borne-> involve pain+ even death-> not a cowardly act

E.g. Dietric Bonhoeffer

May seem cowardly to some, but it's a brave act + may be the results of the religious conviction of the person, e.g. J's teaching- Matthew 26:47-52

Takes more courage to stand up for your beliefs + convictions when everyone else is going along the crowd+ are being encouraged to go to war rather than join the crowd

Matthew 5:9

Matthew 5:43-44

Mr. Luther King

Don't want to cause unnecessary suffering

Quakers- absolute pacifists-> Quaker Peace Testimony

Want to ensure that human race continues

Innocent people suffer in war

Evil acts don't happen-> cruelty+ brutality

J's teaching against violence

Wars don't settle arguments, talking has to be done

Destruction of buildings, disease, etc

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Dietrich Bonhoeffer (9)

1) German Lutheran pastor+ theologian

2) Preached pacifism+ non-violent methods against Hitler

3) Took part in a plot to kill Hitler

4) Helped Jews to escape to Switzerland

5) Reluctantly changed his mind

6) Was arrested by the Nazis for publicly saying that Christians should oppose the Nazi laws on Jews

7) Executed on 9th April, 1945-> just before the end of war

8) His experience of war made him become a pacifist

9) Told the students in his school that their Christian beliefs should make them refuse to fight in a war to serve in the German forces.

10) Prisoner of conscience

11) Conscientious objector

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Mr. Luther King Jr.

Strove for what he believe in

Peaceful protests

Told the society about racism, discrimination and segregation in the US

Speech on 28 August, 1963- "I have a dream"

Tried to resolve the conflict between the white people and African Americans

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Human rights Declaration

Christianity shares the underlying principles

Not a Christian document

Reflects+ echoes some Christian principles

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Human Rights+ Christianity

1) All human beings are born in free+ equal in dignity...- Love thy neighbour

2)We have a duty to other people, and we should...- Matthew 25:35-36

3) These rights belong to everybody, whatever our differences- Genesis 1:27-> all people have an equal value-> children of God-> made in His image+ deserve to be treated equally with equal rights

4) No one shall be held in slavery....- Matthew 23:10

5) No one shall be subjected to torture...- Thou Shalt Not Kill

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How a Christian might respond to a person fighting

Take direct action in the form of a peaceful protest

Join an organisation aiming to help victims of human rights abuse, e.g. Amnesty International